Gasoline and Propane

Gasoline

There has been a steady decline in the average number of gasoline fires in homes each year since 1980 when there were 15,000 fires.

Gasoline Safety

Never use gasoline to start a fire. Gasoline vapors are explosive and can ignite violently without warning.

Keep gasoline out of children's sight and reach. Children should never handle gasoline.

If fire does start while handling gasoline, do not attempt to extinguish the fire or stop the flow of gasoline. Leave the area immediately, and call for help.

Do not use or store gasoline near possible ignition sources (i.e., electrical devices, oil- or gas-fired appliances, or any other device that contains a pilot flame or a spark).

Store gasoline outside the home (i.e., in a garage or lawn shed) in a tightly closed metal or plastic container approved by an independent testing laboratory or the local or state fire authorities. Never store gasoline in glass containers or non-reusable plastic containers (i.e., milk jugs).

Store only enough gasoline necessary to power equipment and let machinery cool before refueling it.

Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent.

Clean up spills promptly and discard clean-up materials properly.

Do not smoke when handling gasoline.

Never use gasoline in place of kerosene.

Use caution when fueling automobiles. Do not get in and out of the automobile when fueling. Although rare, an electrical charge on your body could spark a fire, especially during the dry winter months.

Only fill portable gasoline containers outdoors. Place the container on the ground before filling and never fill containers inside a vehicle or in the bed of a pick-up truck.

Follow all manufacturer’s instructions when using electronic devices (those with batteries or connected to an electrical outlet) near gasoline

Propane

The leading equipment involved in LP-gas home structure fires was a grill, hibachi, or barbecue.